If the economy had a personality, it would be that one friend who texts “we need to talk” and then disappears. Suddenly everyone’s anxious, headlines get dramatic, and you’re wondering if buying eggs now qualifies as a long-term strategy. The truth is much calmer—and far more practical. The economy isn’t a mysterious force controlled by Wall Street or Washington alone.
Retirement. The grand finale. The victory lap. The moment you trade in your alarm clock for… whatever people who sleep past 6 AM use instead. Whether you’re five months or fifteen years away from clocking out for the last time, retirement planning doesn’t have to feel like you’re deciphering ancient hieroglyphics carved into a 401(k) statement. It can be clear, manageable, and—dare we say—kind of fun.
Money is an emotional creature. It can spark joy, spark stress, or spark that moment at 1 a.m. when you google “Can I retire on vibes alone?” (Unfortunately, no. The math people would like a word.) But while finance often feels overwhelming, here’s a fun fact: studies show that people who have a written financial plan are far more confident about their future. According to a recent Schwab survey, 65% of people with a written plan feel financially stable, compared to just 40% without one.
You may have noticed higher prices on the things you buy regularly, like groceries and gas. However, many consumers may not realize that economic factors such as backed-up supply chains, extreme weather events, labor shortages/higher wages, and higher demand are not currently reflected in many consumer prices.
There are moments in history when people have claimed investment choices don’t matter because if the market is up across the board, you cannot fail. That is not true. In fact, that should never be guiding financial advice. However, there is no doubt that the market has been up for many years — notwithstanding the market correction in March 2020, early in the pandemic. For 2021, year to date, the S&P 500 has climbed more than 20%, double the historical average return of about 10%.
While extreme weather events typically affect only certain parts of the country, there is increasing concern that climate change will affect the overall economy – including our investment portfolios. For this reason, the federal government is making composition changes to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), the retirement plan for federal employees. The TSP currently holds more than $762 billion in assets, making it the world’s largest defined contribution plan.
The mid-year U.S. economic recovery numbers look strong. On Wall Street, analysts predict that our economy will expand by trillions of dollars and create 2 million good-paying jobs throughout the next 10 years. However, despite nearly 1 million jobs reported in July alone, the White House cautioned that the resurgence in COVID-19 cases among unvaccinated Americans could set us up for an economic relapse in the remainder of the year. While the U.S. lags in vaccination numbers, other countries are starting to pick up the pace.
Young adults have weathered difficult times the past two decades: mass school shootings, extreme weather conditions, student loan debt and a global pandemic. But now they’re witnessing an unprecedented job market, where even those with little to no work experience can dictate their own terms. It’s important that we steer our young adults to good saving and investing habits now, while they have the capacity to earn increased income. This job market may not always be the reality, so it’s good to build a treasure chest when they have the opportunity.
Planning for retirement income may seem like a daunting task, but can help you get a handle on preparing for your financial future.
If the economy had a personality, it would be that one friend who texts “we need to talk” and then disappears. Suddenly everyone’s anxious, headlines get dramatic, and you’re wondering if buying eggs now qualifies as a long-term strategy. The truth is much calmer—and far more practical. The economy isn’t a mysterious force controlled by Wall Street or Washington alone.
As many workers returned to their offices this fall, employers took on much of the expense of paying for weekly COVID testing, as well as insurance coverage and paid leave for sick and quarantined workers. These extra expenses may well lead to higher insurance premiums for everyone.
An important economic driver for America — working consumers — is dwindling. For example, the Denver International Airport recently hosted a concessions job fair to fill around 1,000 openings at the airport for jobs at stores, restaurants, and other businesses.
One of the silver linings coming from the pandemic is that when pet shelters had to close temporarily during lockdowns, a call went out for foster homes so animals would continue receiving the necessary attention. Many of those pets were so loved that they were adopted rather than returned to shelters.
You may have noticed higher prices on the things you buy regularly, like groceries and gas. However, many consumers may not realize that economic factors such as backed-up supply chains, extreme weather events, labor shortages/higher wages, and higher demand are not currently reflected in many consumer prices.
There are moments in history when people have claimed investment choices don’t matter because if the market is up across the board, you cannot fail. That is not true. In fact, that should never be guiding financial advice. However, there is no doubt that the market has been up for many years — notwithstanding the market correction in March 2020, early in the pandemic. For 2021, year to date, the S&P 500 has climbed more than 20%, double the historical average return of about 10%.
If the economy had a personality, it would be that one friend who texts “we need to talk” and then disappears. Suddenly everyone’s anxious, headlines get dramatic, and you’re wondering if buying eggs now qualifies as a long-term strategy. The truth is much calmer—and far more practical. The economy isn’t a mysterious force controlled by Wall Street or Washington alone.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that the company is rebranding as “Meta.” The initiative is designed to focus the company’s vision on virtual reality (VR) in the future, through what Zuckerberg refers to as the “metaverse.”
As many workers returned to their offices this fall, employers took on much of the expense of paying for weekly COVID testing, as well as insurance coverage and paid leave for sick and quarantined workers. These extra expenses may well lead to higher insurance premiums for everyone.
An important economic driver for America — working consumers — is dwindling. For example, the Denver International Airport recently hosted a concessions job fair to fill around 1,000 openings at the airport for jobs at stores, restaurants, and other businesses.
One of the silver linings coming from the pandemic is that when pet shelters had to close temporarily during lockdowns, a call went out for foster homes so animals would continue receiving the necessary attention. Many of those pets were so loved that they were adopted rather than returned to shelters.
You may have noticed higher prices on the things you buy regularly, like groceries and gas. However, many consumers may not realize that economic factors such as backed-up supply chains, extreme weather events, labor shortages/higher wages, and higher demand are not currently reflected in many consumer prices.